Day 125, Acts 17:1-18:18
We conclude the week returning to the account in the Book of Acts, with Paul and Silas traveling to Thessalonica, then Berea, on to Athens and then Corinth.
In Thessalonica, Paul proclaims Christ in the synagogue and some Jews accept his message, along with a great many Greeks and a significant number of leading women (the Greek society was much more accepting of women leading than the patriarchal Jewish society).
But trouble arises when the majority of the Jews get jealous, incite a riot, and twist what Paul and his team are saying. Yet again, religious zeal opposes what God is doing.
So Paul and his team move on to Berea, where the Jews are more noble: they receive the teaching with eagerness ( Greek: prothumia) which means a willingness to bring this new teaching alongside all they already know and see if it is consistent and compatible (which of course, it is)!
But, here comes trouble: religion can’t stand openness to godly teaching, because it threatens religious power and control. The Thessalonians bring their rabble to Berea and repeat the rioting process. So Paul and his companions move on to Athens; Paul directly and Silas and Timothy following.
In an ungodly city in a culture vastly different from his own, Paul finds ways to make a connection with the Athenians, who value philosophical discussion and the airing of views. Starting with their own place of worship “To the unknown God,” Paul leads them to the truth about Jesus, quoting their own poets in the process (v28).
When Paul explains the resurrection, some scoff but others are interested, and over time some significant people become believers.
Moving on to Corinth, Paul find Aquila and Priscilla, Jewish believers evicted from Rome. Together these three support themselves by making tents until Silas and Timothy arrive, and by this time the Jews in the synagogue have reviled Paul and from this point forward he purposes to go only to the Gentiles. What a credit to Paul that he tried for so long (and with such painful opposition) to also preach the good news to his fellow Jews. The team moves next door to the synagogue into the house of a Gentile, and many come to faith, including the leader of the synagogue that had rejected Paul! This went on for 18 months, and God told Paul to stay and speak out. Finally, the Jews rise up against the burgeoning church and accuse them falsely before the Roman authorities. But the Romans won’t hear of it, and instead the synagogue leader gets beaten as the scapegoat of the angry, jealous, legalistic mob.
So we may not experience the level of opposition Paul did, but let’s be sure to speak up, persuade as many as we can, and demonstrate God’s power wherever we go!
Have a great day!
Mark.